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Big week for the Big Ten

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Thursday I realized that I despise the SEC more than I despise Ohio State.

When bowl season comes along I transform from a MSU/ Michigan fan to a Big Ten fan. As hard as it was for me, I was pulling for Ohio State and I’m very happy they won because it’s great for the conference.

Going on down the line, MSU’s amazing comeback win over Baylor was also huge for the Big Ten. Sparty was a team that many people felt were overrated because of their performances on the big stages. With their only two losses coming to the two teams that are playing for a National Championship, it’s hard to argue their legitimacy. Now for the first time ever MSU will finish the season ranked in the top five for two consecutive seasons. MSU has now beat three top five teams since December of 2013. You’d have to go back to 2006 to find three wins over top-five teams for Ohio State, 1998 for Nebraska and 1988 for Notre Dame. Pretty impressive stuff.

Wisconsin also had a huge win for the Big Ten over Auburn in the Outback Bowl. With Athletic Director Barry Alvarez acting as Head Coach the Badgers won on a last minute field goal to slay another almighty SEC squad.

Other nice wins for the Big Ten were Rutgers convincing win over North Carolina in the Quicklane Bowl and Penn State’s thrilling victory over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. The conference would finish 5-5 in bowls with Ohio State yet to still play Oregon. 5-5 may not seem overwhelming but remember that CBS sports projected the Big Ten to go 0-10 in their bowls.

Here are the results of power five conference teams in bowl games. (Ranked teams record in parenthesis)

Pac 12: 6-2 (5-1)
SEC: 7-5 (2-5)
B1G: 5-5 (3-1) Still pending
ACC: 4-7 (2-1)
Big 12: 2-5 (2-2)

If anything this only proves that there may be more balance throughout college football than originally perceived. I think it absolutely proves something I’ve been saying for months, the SEC isn’t head and shoulders above the rest.

Bowl season spoke volumes for the Big Ten but possibly the biggest thing to happen wasn’t even on a field.

Michigan hiring Jim Harbaugh is spectacular for the Big Ten and really all of college football. I don’t think the Big Ten needs a good Michigan, but it needs good programs. Moving forward the conference should present a three-headed monster of Jim Harbaugh, Urban Meyer and Mark Dantonio. The second tier of Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota and now Penn State’s current ascension can’t be ignored.

I’m a fan of Big Ten football, but also a fan of college football in general.

If The Big Ten can keep up this level of competition, we’re in for a treat.


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